Palace mum on acquittal of Webb, others

MANILA (5th Update, 1:56 p.m.) -- Malacañang decided to stay away from the controversial acquittal of Hubert Webb and his co-accused in the controversial Vizconde massacre case.

"The Palace has no position one way or the other on the Vizconde case, we leave it entirely to the parties to comment on that," presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said Tuesday.

Webb, others acquitted in massacre case

MANILA (4th Update, 12:58 p.m.) -- The controversial Vizconde massacre case has come to an end as the Supreme Court (SC) ruled with finality to absolve main suspect Hubert Webb and six others Tuesday.

Voting 7-4-4, the High Court gave weight to the inconsistencies in the testimonies of prosecution witnesses, as well as the documentary evidence proving Webb was in the United States when the massacre took place last June 29, 1991.

Hubert Webb acquitted

MANILA -- The Supreme Court (SC) ordered Tuesday the release of Hubert Webb, a son of a former senator who was sentenced to life imprisonment in connection with the Vizconde massacre in 1991.

Voting 7-4, the SC justices ruled that the prosecution was not able to prove its guilt beyond reasonable doubt. They also cited certain inconsistencies in the testimonies of witnesses in acquitting Webb.

Public hearing on power rate hike today

THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) will hold a public hearing Tuesday on the power rate hike to be imposed by the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco).

Cheryl Tortal, Public Relations Officer of Ceneco, said the hearing, which will be conducted at the annex building of Ceneco at 9 a.m. Tuesday, is intended for the setting of rules for electric cooperatives' "wheeling rates" to be charged to consumers.

Plans for power plant finalized

THE investor for a 35-megawatt multi-fueled power plant to be constructed next year in Sagay City presented their final plans Monday to Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr.

David Montaigne, President of Global Green Power Negros Philippines Inc. (GGPNPI), said they are now looking for a 12-hectare property close to the Sagay Economic Zone in Hacienda Ricky, Barangay Paraiso where they will put up the power plant that costs $800 million and will take 24 months to build.

Permanent ban on quarry pushed

CONCERNED organizations and individuals led by Rev. Fr. Farley Ray S. Santillan, parish priest of the Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church in Barangay Alangilan, urged Mayor Evelio Leonardia to permanently stop the quarry operation in the mountains of their barangay.

Backing Fr. Santillan were Clarita Dela Noche of Amlig Bukid Kilos Dampig-Alangilan; Cerila G. Alunan, president of the Parish Pastoral Council; Barangay Alangilan Kagawad Rodrigo L. Jagunap, Rinaldo V. Ramirez, HUCAF-C Chairman; Gladys D. Sales, Alangilan National High School; Ermalen B. Glino, KUSOG sang Sitio Arceo; Kagawad Alex C. Sauci and Jovy Talimodao, Rafael Alunan Elem. School.

Campaign vs hot meat yields 1,341 kilos

THE city's Task Force Botagoy has confiscated some 1,341 kilos of assorted hot meat from various markets since the start of the year and is intensifying its operation this Yuletide season.

Council approves flyover project

THE Regional Development Council has approved the flyover project at Bangga Pepsi and endorsed the same to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWW) for implementation, said Bacolod City Administrator Rogelio Balo, who received the letter from RDC.

He said that the project engineer of the flyover has informed him that work on the project will start on the first week of January. "He reminded me of the relocation of the facilities of private utilities," Balo added.

More than 1,000 families to get cash assistance

BACOLOD Social Services and Development head Sally Abelarde said the Department of Welfare and Development (DSWD) will facilitate the distribution of the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (4Ps) cash assistance to 1,288 validated beneficiaries in Bacolod City on December 22 at the BAYS Center.

This will just be an initial assistance, and starting next year the beneficiaries will be provided cards.

Guv inducts 80 Negros First Talisay councilors

EIGHTY Members of Negros First Barangay Kagawad Association of Talisay City took their oath of office yesterday before Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. in his office yesterday.

The barangay councilors also presented to Marañon Monday their Manifesto of support for his Negros First Priority Development Agenda.

3 Bacolod cops get commendations

THREE personnel of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) on Monday received commendations for their arrest of a suspected swindler who alleged took P1.4 million from a businesswoman in the city last month.

Supt. Pedrito Escarilla, BCPO deputy chief for administration, gave the awards to Police Officers (PO) 2 Johnny Dela Pena, Joshua Barile and PO1 Rolly Jardinico during a flag-raising ceremony at the BCPO on Monday.

Firecracker retailers get permits

DESPITE complaints of potential income loss, some 70 retailers of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices have secured permits to operate in the designated selling area at the New Government Center in Bacolod City.

One retailer told Sun.Star Bacolod that the City Government decision to designate the site of the former Masskara garden show as the only vending area for firecrackers would surely mean reduced income.

Board member told to do homework

VICE Governor Norris Babiera gave a lecture on house rules to a member of the Misamis Oriental Provincial Board (PB) who was adamant on passing a vetoed ordinance.

Board member Geodeguil Ursal insisted during Monday’s session that the Provincial Board should override Governor Oscar Moreno’s veto on a measure granting tax relief to delinquent taxpayers in the province.

P1-per-lot program now 50 centavos

UNDETERRED by criticisms, Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Emano said City Hall has awarded some 47 lots at .50 centavos to some homeless families.

The lots were distributed under the administration’s newest land distribution program, “singkwenta-singkwenta,” a precursor of the “piso-piso” project, which sells lots to urban poor families for P1.

Prosecutors: No drug case downgrade

THE City Prosecutor's Office in Cagayan de Oro has clarified that it did not "downgrade" a drug case, even as it expressed surprise at the claim of one police official that marked money was among those included in the submitted evidence.

Governor dares opposition: Initiate recall

SEEMINGLY unperturbed by the shift of power at the province’s legislative body, Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar Moreno challenged the majority block in the Provincial Board to initiate a recall against him.

Court removes budget barrier

THE Cebu Provincial Board (PB) passed next year’s P3.09-billion budget ordinance, after a judge denied the vice governor’s petition for a restraining order.

Before the PB approved the budget on its second and third readings, Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez Jr. asked PB Member Agnes Magpale to preside, saying he has some visitors to attend to.

Mayor proposes ‘bare’ budget of P4.4B

THE Cebu City Government will operate next year on a P4.4- billion budget, the biggest annual appropriation so far in the history of City Hall, if the mayor has his way.

Next year’s proposed annual appropriation is much bigger than the P2.8-million budget this year, after Mayor Michael Rama adopted a bare budget instead of using “lean and mean” and “skin and bones” budgeting.

Rama lists accumulated problems that Osmeña administration left behind

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama showed a list of problems, concerns and issues that he said have beset the City since he was a councilor until the administration of his predecessor, Rep. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, south district).

These include environmental concerns such as the landfill, garbage collection, drainage system, and landslides, among others.

Capitol, Balilis face off today over P37M refund

THE Regional Trial Court (RTC) will hear today the suit the Provincial Government filed to get back the money it paid for parcels of the Balili estate that turned out to be underwater.

Cordova dampens firecracker vendors’ sales

SOME P60,000 worth of seized assorted firecrackers were destroyed by the police and local officials of Cordova town, Cebu yesterday.

The ceremonial destruction of the 13 sacks of firecrackers signaled an intensified campaign against the illegal manufacturers and distributors of firecrackers, officials said.

Digal ready to face mayor in court

FOR pulling out six policemen, Senior Supt. Erson Digal will be slapped with a harassment case by Daanbantayan Mayor Maria Luisa Loot.

But Digal, director of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO), said he is unfazed by Mayor Loot’s move.

Saavedra sues Gwen for libel

BUSINESSMAN Crisologo Saavedra filed a libel complaint against Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia for “destroying his credibility” after his expose on the allegedly anomalous purchase of the Balili property.

In his complaint filed at the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office, Saavedra said Garcia maligned his reputation when she called him a “creature” in a press conference last Dec. 8.

World Bank officials ready to start BRT feasibility study next month

WORLD Bank (WB) consultants are ready to start the feasibility study on the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) this month, but Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama wants to see the draft of the study’s details first.

City officials met with the consultants last week to discuss the details of the feasibility study for the BRT, the mass transport system that the City Government wants to implement.

Congress lauds Cebu archbishop for work as peacekeeper

CEBU CITY -- Outgoing Cebu Archbishop Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal was formally presented a commendation from the Senate and the House of Representatives on Monday.

Airport reaping rewards from air access policy

CLARK FREEPORT -- A top official of a business group here recently said that the liberal air access policy has transformed the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) from a sleepy and idle airport into one of the fastest-growing and busiest regional airports today.

Pampanga lanterns light up Philippine Embassy in Thailand

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Some 100 "Parul Sampernandu" (Fernandino lanterns) are lighting up and "shining" at the Philippine Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand.

The lanterns, made of handmade paper and fiberglass were hanged on Acacia and Mango trees around the embassy grounds and were officially lit during the lighting ceremonies on December 9.

Cop killed, another wounded in shootout

CAMP OLIVAS -- A police officer was killed and another one was wounded during a shoot-out in front of a food chain in Barangay Sindalan, City of San Fernando, last Friday.

Superintendent Homer Penecilla, officer-in-charge of the City of San Fernando police station, identified the fatality as Senior Police Officer 1 Bernard Agrano, a member of the Floridablanca police station.

Sector: Why no biz awardee in Moka?

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The business sector in Pampanga is asking Capitol why no entrepreneur or businessman was recognized during Saturday's Most Outstanding Kapampangan Awards (Moka) unlike in the past years.

Climate change could lead to 'washout' of towns

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - An economic official has recently agreed with the result of a study conducted by some experts in global warming stating that coastal towns adjacent to Pampanga River are in danger of being totally washed out.